Abu Sa‘eed Khudri (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) says: “I was presented to Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) by my father for fighting at Uhud when I was thirteen. My father recommended me saying: ‘O Prophet of Allah! He has a very good body. His bones are very well-developed.’ Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) looked at me again and again, and finally rejected me due to my young age.” (Al-Istee‘aab vol. 4, pg. 235 & Usdul Ghaabah vol. 4, pg. 467)
He further says: “My father, however, participated in the battle and was martyred without leaving behind any wealth. Our financial situation was extremely poor and we were in dire need. Hence my mother sent me to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to seek some financial help from him. Before I could express myself, he addressed me saying: ‘Abu Sa‘eed! Whosoever seeks contentment from Allah Ta‘ala gets it! Whosoever seeks chastity from Him, gets it, and whosoever seeks restraint from Him will surely get it.’ After hearing this, I returned home without making any request to him. Furthermore, after that day I didn’t ask anything from anyone. Thereafter so much of wealth came to us that presently we are among the most wealthy households of the Ansaar.” (As-Sunanul Kubraa lil Baihaqi vol. 7, pg. 24 & Musnad Abi Dawood At-Tayaalisi #2325)
Lesson: Look at the restraint of Abu Sa‘eed (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) at such a young age. He had lost his father at the age of thirteen who had left him nothing to live on and therefore he fully deserved all help, yet a few words of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) stopped him from talking of his distress and seeking a favour. Can a person much older than him show such a strength of character?
Upon this, Allah Ta‘ala blessed him with such an exalted position that, among the younger Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), there are very few endowed with so much knowledge and learning as Abu Sa‘eed (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).